The provision in the contract
about making up clubs for the Opening ap-
ply only to Contract Holders living in one
County. In the case of the Diptrict of Col-
umbia we would not object to having Contract
Holders who formerly lived there, or who are
close friends or relatives of Washington Con-
tract Holders, included on the Washington club
sheets, and I suppose the same will apply to
the people in the immediate vicinity of Wash-
ington.

We would like a suggestion from
the Washington people as to which road they
would rather use in going to Florida for the
Opening. The agent of the Southern Railway
has been after us, but I do not know whether
that is the best route. If the Home Builders
Association wishes to take.this up as a body,
and advise us which road they prefer, we would
be glad to have them do so.

Yours truly,

THE FLORIDA EVERGLADES LAND CO.

BY z-1 '" : '"-.",,
Treasurer.

WFG:AL

I II i I

"IS6.

THE ALTON
WEST PALM BEACH
FLORIDA g
:2A

/1>2

)~k6/a~4
/

/
/
C~iL-&~-9

-/L

/7&
A

THE ALTON V
WEST PALM BEACH
FLORIDA
Y4
Z7~

,"e~j~ie/-

~ne~

THE ALTON
WEST PALM BEACH
7 LORIDA

/7ZI

THE ALTON
WEST PALM BEACH
FLORIDA

THE ALTON
WEST PALM BEACH

(

47

664 6 a),&^W "^ ,^C24 /

.- ,J .
/d 4.?/Cv7 iv

V

'

T. J. CHAMPION' /
1928 W. 102ND ST.

^ CHICAGO, Jan 3.1913;

Mrs. Laura V. Mc Cullough,

531 8 th st. Washington ,D.C.

1,- dear Mrs. Me Cullough ?

Exceedingly pleased was I to receive the
harp" and good letter of the parting da.s of the old
1e a, from your hand. I appreciated the wishes for
a HXIprp New Ydar for me and mine and. I wish to tell
you very earnestly / "indeed that I have been h ping
the same foV.you in e-.er-- way from a date long "efore,
the hflody season or-since the result of the last
election became known. Of course the we not just what
you had been hopin-i for but -I hope thi'- may make
no changes that will affect you adversely, and I have
been hoping this ever e*Lr since& the despic"a.b". untir
"'of big animals T, shot the complacent old Repiblican
p-a-c-h-y-d-e-r-m ,with a poisoniEbuill- et last summer.
I had planned writing you to find but the status of the
case as affecting your future, when I heard of i;r. Baxis's
mis~irtune but the last month of the e ar here. at
Chiado in my business with its International e xpositibn
and followed immediately by the an.,ual statistical woak
in which I have to take a hand is the high- presesre ,.w
ti' icof the whole yaaifor me. I'm hoping however1 that
everything wil- bie ak with the biihalf for you always.

,Tow about the llan for an addition to Okeelanta
ain.eP1f P 1.ah uuT 7l thir H7rThh j I
0on !y part *cn' shak'- W'r6Wnah;,ney, that's the 'vorshe 1 b
of it We have a dau hter and a son away at school
this winter or the who4school 'tre-ar in fact, aErd as you
know, Mrs. Mc Cullougi I have bought almost SQD_,crep
of this Glade land already. Not an acre of it has been
developed and now I must get together something to Sg.elp P
Sy some of it and get it earning something to develop more
of it You know I have m- .ai-, to have the home on the
southOghore, of the lake just west of the site of the ]
hotel here we stopped when we wee ee down there But /
my heafUl is with the future of Okeelanta just the saie L
and'ma- be able to send you a cuEs'omelTr for some of
this land with an a.-,.r-,ment wiTh hirit from me that I
will take his purchase off his hands in three years with
interest on his money if he-is afraid of the cars IPm
not Please convey to Dr. Will my compliments bn the
1Cine lay out he has given the, proposition inis folder
(l nd assure him that I will say good.Bords for his.4lan
Iin avery possible place where I think ic will do good.

T. J. CHAMPION'
1928 W. 102ND ST.

I shall be glad if you wil.. write me again a littlelater on
telling me of the situation as regards the, plan and when
you plan to go down on the land CHICAGO,

Have been trying to -ar -ange my plans to make a trip down in
February, to get a force started to do some cit7aring for me
over by Callahanijplace, The wet weather has delayed my
.., plans as I had them laid out when I saw you last but they
tell me now the water is goirg down and sore of them are planting
their gardenn.

If you will send me a p$at after your next meeting parking
the tracts that are actuoj~, ild and those' stdll unald with
prices both cash and time I will try and help you get thi
before some of the right kind of people.

S With kindest personal regards and wishes for your welfare
in every way and the rapid^ pcess of the Ad-1ijori to the Town
That as yet Has Nothing But a Good Name and The Best Fairy
God Mother That A Town Ever Had,

A letter received from Mr. Bantz a few
days ago advises me of the preparations to issue a circular
to the contract holders of the Florida Everglades Land-Company.

I have the interest of every contract holder
at heart in this situation, and you may be sure I have a very
warm interest in the successful ture of the Okeelantg ampany,
Soon to be organized, and which your executive omite i

I have a high regard for yourx_.aj njAudgment
in business matters, Mrs. McCullough, and I ask you before any,/ig
/circular is sent out or any expense gone to in the matter, to /
confer with Mr. Bantz regarding my views as to the best way
to secGe the mosaiganey for the Okeelanta Company and to avoid /
comp)ications that will arise if this appeal for funds be sent
out before the organization of the Company and before the time
that stock is anywhere near ready to be delivered to the holders
of these contracts.

I have written Mr. Bantz fully regarding this
matter and I am very much in hope that you will see him and discuss
with him the contents of this letter before making any further
move in the issue of the circular.

Trusting I may hear from you regarding the
results of your conference with Mr. Bantz,and with my kindest
personal regards to the "Fairy Godmother of Okeelanta",

Very truly

T.J. *M

')

JUL115 159

i

F. .:iJ

L :. / .
.. -

/
- .

IP
'S
Cx~ :~4t.j-/tXd-

7*J*' '--2%

-. C :

.i- V'

/

Kr

>* jr
I -

. i;

.44 *j

I..
6~

/24

$4'r,

.1

'9- f.P
It
'-LAk/ KY[

-t

/-ii

,. ^

2 -

* 4

9-1

-

, 'p.

0

, J

\ '9 A.'' ^ '
J" : ," ,:
Lo1 L '

(Ik

1

S-. '-t

/
/B .-

*r 1/

F''

yy i

.7'.
I.'t 'I

i.

r.

~(1t dv

AL P
i' P;

"S

(4' (;.L '

7't.-

62

.4 I:

r}
( I

/

y i

' -I. 1

/1P

IA

.'. T

4' i

.1

A ,'

'--/ C' :' .' 1

* *

t tP

.
'

' rf 1

* /

".~* ~

.<

' I 1-

.1t

.- .,
2 'C ,

I.

4
$I

e i'
* .,' *' Cp

a1 /

pi

' ,, K i

3P :/

.4;(.

I,

.~c.1

/1
/

1< 't/fw

*-
.7'
/ J *I

.4-- -~

4-.- .4

,,d

4
"". f 4'
/

/
*' *?. ".
l^' .

A .
'

/7*;
'1

/
I,
A-

2f
/)

i *7

,sf f

I

1r*

P'-

A!
*1 .*

/

' t

/I

/

4 'f
4-e,

/
/' .,

/ :

2.i -. .

.jr/

*A

IV-

I

, /4
i I

* e
i
//' /

- /

It.;

('A

' i : '

:/

4,4

,1:

/"
A

A I

/
r^1 '**

, /,

*/4.

4~..

Z-

r

.. /

;! 'C~lr -i- ~il ~ t i
'"i~

I

r

;~~

.-

%:ii

/

""i. ~Jr:

^

t ***.-*

" ,- 1t

4

'-A- -

i ,r'?
~~ -

,-, J

I '

A /

I/ /

/,

/ Y1,

7k.

/

.1.

V-r

Ai~r *~
6'a Aj

jI 4- -
k

K ,-

/"

. /

_1

I ~ Y

/

r

. < ,.

i-

"_ '_ ; /

SDRW. ALLEN BARR / 7/
BS NORTH STATE STREET
CHICAGO .. :

July 28th,1913.

Mrs.Laura V.McCullough,

531 8th Street, II.E.,

ashington ,D.C.

Dear rIrs.TcCullough;

Your excellent letter was read by L.rs.Earr
and myself -ith no minor degree of pleasure, and I regret that
w'e have not an organization here, such as the Homebuilders at
Washington. There is no reason why such an organization cannot
be formed here, and with the proper amounts of enthusiasm injected
into it, exceed even out friends in Washington. This is the
home of the F.E.L.Co., here every arsistLile and advice could
gladly hb extended to us. besidess ve have a list of contract-
holders e~ual to," if not greater in number, than you have, This,
however, is a very .7 city, rush and push early and late, and
with a w-ear and grind, that no har felt li':e taking the iniative.

The delay on the part of the Board of
Internal Ii-mprovement in pushing drainage, and the false allure-
ments of over enthusiastic and misleading agents, have res-ulted
in a general distrust on the part of contract-holders. T1any
have abandoned hopes o:' realizing on their investments, and must
be shown by actual results before any interest in them can be
aroused.

As I view it, the work of improvement can
not be undertaken until .'e have en a,;-urance that drainage is
far enough advanced to secure us from a prolonged overflow.
Should work he attempted this fall, and another visitation of
rains, such as the south ha. last winter, I fear all efforts
vould not on]l be lost, but there rould be an enforced aband-
onrent of the Glades, -ith a spirit o' disnncouragement that
would be hard to control for the future.

Hovover, a" early as possible to begin
improvements, I a& ready to do al. I can to aid in development.
;,y tracts are located at such a distance from Okeelanta that,
the town itself Till be of no u.e to me beyond the immed-ate...
affect of colonization, and its influences. :''''
;l;iz: .: '., .
IW,

I I M

DR.W. ALLEN BARRi,
s2 NORTH STATE STREET ,
OHICAGO

while e there last April I purchr.l ed 20_L crese
adj-':inin-rg Callahan's experiment farm on the Jest, which will be
my "ir. t tract to irFi r-.''e. This is one of the highest poin '-
around the lake, and. perhaps could be worked. frc.; nov: on, .I.t
I have made no plans before the fall of 1914.

The question of surveys is one of great
importance, but: I understand, that from the fii,:. c.ial stsel-
of affairs, the outlook for an ear?:- .i:-:rv- is n: .t the I .ar't
'ea y. It is to be hoped that the survey vi;ll not hb: d-ela..;cd
beyond the point where i.i;'cvoi.icilt work can begin.

Your letter raised a question in thy mind
which I am unable to decide alone. As you say the Okeeanta
Association is incep.;2in.entfthe Company to Ibe formed and j from
this I would infer that your1idea is to continue the AssojCiion
after the Conr-.-y has been formed. I have always presumed that
the neroyrganization is to take itheplace of the old. How is it?

In the formation of the new Company there
are some 4000 stock-holders in the' G '. Land' -i. c,t must be
satisfied, and it seems to me that the powers and duties of the
Compory.r should be simplified as much as possible. However, this
is l...--' y a matter for our Truatees and not the mraemes of the
Okeelanta Association.

In reference to the we.li to be done by
our Pecret. ryi~J- ~emurer in the letter to be. sent out, I would
like --:;r viev-s on a c-'rpenr'ation coveriJ1g 1ch clerical work.

The replies to their letters must necessitate
a v:orod o vw~k, as they will be- freighted with qr. t-i-.ons that
should bhe answered, and answered nividually to satisfy them.
I realize w-e re not in a position to pay__; :aries; but some
provision should be .e to meet cleric';lexpenses incurred in
this correspondence. V'hat do .n:i think about it?

I would heartily enjoy a meeting n:ith :-'-u:r
organization, and feel that it is well for the interests of all
that some one is pushing forward in the cause.

Herewith I am enclosing you statement
of receipts, disbursements, and amount on hand as of July 1,
1913. This shows a total balance of $467.79, the amount we
were possessed of before we began incurring expenses for
this second notice. I am also enclosing you herewith st e-
ment of expenses in connection with the second noti e

Yours very truly,,_. F

/////// -- //// Aug. 1, 1913.

Mrs. Laura V. McCullough,

531 8th St. N. E.,

Washington, D. C.
Dear Mrs. McCullough:

I am enclosing you herewith copy of
circular this day mailed to all contract holders. This

has been one big job of work. On account of the way
the list was printed, envelopes had to be addressed to
the owner of each contract, or to 48900 persons. It was
then necessary to sort over all these envelopes so address-

ed, for the purpose of extracting duplicates. Then there
was the enclosing, sealing, stamping, mailing, etc., that

entailed a great deal of work. I will send you in a day
or two the total expense of printing and mailing these

communications, including cost of postage, and at the
same time will endeavor to send you a financial statement

up to date. Let me know what you think of the form in

which we issued the circular.

With best personal regards, I beg to remain\

Yours very truly, /'\ ( \(

I --- '
-LPLIUXI~~

_

/y

---s~r
L~

Aug 12 1913

t Dear Mr Austin: I have your third envelope of letters, have
read them all carefully and given them to DB 1ill.
I dare say they are a fair sample of all the kinds you
get; and I can see that it is some thing of a problem to deal
with them. What I here set down is my individual opinion of
the situation and is valuable in so fur only as it contains
a fair amount of truth or wisdom, I am not surprised that
there is a flood of questions. I am gratified it shows
that the interest is not killed by delay and neglect, I would
answer every letter, literate and illiterate, you ask how
would I do it? I think the first thing to consider is whether
or not replies are desired and expected by the writers of the
letters, what would be gained in confidence or good will, is
it useful and right? If it in, "how" comes afterward. Now I
think those people want and expect answers and they will only
have another element of dissatisfaction if they do not get any.
I look upon every question as an evidence of interest and hope,
to be fostered, satisfied and nurtured. The questions show us
what to do, give us the text of what to say. The contract
holders are the stuff out of which the Okeelanta Association,
Company or what not is made. They are the people, we are
their servants Is confidence and good will any account in
this business? ,ny one will say "yes" at once. The contract
holders will have to be behind any development and they will
never touch any thing they do not understand and have some
measure of confidence in. I wish I could have gone ahead
with my little papr. 7e need one so badly that could be
used to answer questions, to educate, to set tWhoght going
to bear fruit in deeds. And our constitution says we shall
provide a means of communication. That is why I tried to start
the Karly Bir3 GoingeTok to the matter of replies I judge
the writers by myself I know there was a time when I wanted
to know things, I would have paid postage for sure and almost
any reasonable fee to find out some thing any thing.
SThere is nothing so tiresome as to be baffled at every turn,
to be in the dark, when you think you have a right to know.
I would answer the letters, I would tell the truth of
course but I would not be too short and curt about it. I would
not be as talkative as no doubt you find my letters to you,
Sbut I would volunteer a little side line of hope and cheer
wherever the faets would bear it and there is plenty in the
subject. I would build the contract holders up by introducing

them to each other, by encouraging them to form little associa-
tions and communicating with eaoh other. I would know their
dates of meeting and I'd have a letter or a newspaper outting
on hand to be read. I would, foster Oenoourage unite, ittwill
have to be done, here a little there a little, if it ever is
done. But to my mind, that is the way to build up a powerful
sentiment, a living force for development in the Glades, and
it will be a long time coming any other way.
The contract holder are our constituency, they are our
world, they are our capital they are our raw material, and I
grant you some of it is pretty raw. :3ut all the same thoy are
the bricks for our building. rot for our use in a personal
way, not for our aggrandlment but with an eye single and fixed
Supon the happy and proeperounLaomeo the Glades is able to
s\apport. We ou#ht to clasp hunds in the utmost friendliness
as officers even if for the present only, we ought to fool it a
privilege to work together on auoh an original a problem.
That there are difficulties is to be expected but if we can
build up the contract holders in confidence, in each other and
in us, it will make a mighty force to compel some things that
are dragging down yonder. I do not know my term of office,
it makes no difference, I am willing to be known or unknown
if I can help the cause along. I believe that buying the
land in Florida was like a beautiful castle in Spain to many
and many a contract holder perhaps he or she bought in de-
fianoe to some relative who is doing some tall crowing about
"I told you so". To that lonely, discouraged contract holder
I would like to Bend some thing of an antidote. That would
be joy to me.
Now coming to the "how" I am entirely willing to
write such letters as I have indicated but as I do not own a
typewriter it would have to be long hand and it is a physi-
cal impossibility to write every letter twice. Dr :"11i has
only said to me over the phone that he thinks all letters
Should have a reply, but'iwe have had no conference about
it as yet; perhaps in a day or so we will come to it.
I do not see how I could furnish you a copy. I do not
bear on the paper heavily enough to hit a carbon and I can't
Learn a new penmanship.
SReading this over and noticing the expressions, "I would
do this, that and the other" it might be well to say I mean
simply, that what is here written is my opinion of the
way the letters should be handled, the ideal way, together
with a few of the reasons and some of the desirable results
in so doing.
Some of these people think they have been "stung" -
to most persons.this is too galling to be endure, They
would rather give away five dollars than be bambnppled out
Sof one and as tfme goea on they gather soreness.
,. .. ,m ., =

I

I

/ /

Buying the land was a business proposition of course, but
thexe is some thing of sentiment behind it and a gold thread
of it running through the wl1e thing. l:ow of course sen-ti-
Sipent is not the largest element in the problem but it is of
sufficient size and power to be worthy of attention.
,he contract holders, every mother's son and daughter
of them bought for just two reasons:
1 investment
2 a home. how what sentiments hopes, dreams, plans
cluster about either idea? Are they not the very strongest
and most abiding the human mind or heart can know?
S There's our lever to swing our world' it is Opportunity
knocking at our doors! perhapss it cannot be done, but at
least we ought to make a try at it.
T,'hen I say, I, my mine, we our and us, nothing is meant
but our collective capacity as officers in the passing present
with a most attractive outlook upon a situation calculated to
appeal to the heart of the mightiest empire builder the world
as ever known. V'e do not have to lift these npasa by main
strength and awkwardness, they are hungry to hear and to learn,
and they will put up the money once they see any chance of dong
things.
In apology I will say you.asked me what I think about the
letters so here it is.
I am inolosing a bulletin, we rather expect a big meeting
Saturday,
,ith Beat wishes

My reply to your message declining to act as
Secretary of the meeting to be held in Lakejworth January 4th
has been delayed until a time when I have been advised mail
will reach you in Florida. Upon its receipt, it became
necessary to substitute the name of Dr. FBar as Secretary
in order to get the papers signed up and on their way, as the
time limit to do the things required was close up. On that
account, I regarded it better to wire you than to trust the
uncertainties of mail.

We all regret your decision declining to acton the
Application fcr Charter as prepared. Mr. Chapman and I put in
two whole days and some of the two nights going over the angles
of this organization matter, and arrived at what we regarded
the best solutionn of it for protection of the interests of all
contract holders. We are encouraged to know that our action
meets the hearty.approval of the irn who donated the gift land,
this approval being expressed after having full_.Jowledge of the
plan that emanated from Washington.

It is very natural that you should show loyalty to
the authors of the Washington plan, as you have been associated
with them, I understand, for some years.

We are trusting, however, that when you c'-me to a
full understanding of the motives and purposes for the common
god along which Mr. Chapman and I have been doing what wercould
in this matter, that you will feel somewhat more kindlL disposed
toward the organization plan which has been prepared.

Trusting that we may have the pleasure of seeing you
in Lake Worth during our necessary meeting their in January,
and wishing you the fullest possible success and much enjoyment
in your new work in Florida,

With reference to the motion reacinding the so-called
contract of March 17th, would say that I submit this proposition.
in "e hope that it may relieve Mr. Bantz from some embarrassment
and leave him perfectly free to act with the Trustees in closing
this matter up. There is everything to be gained and nothi g to
be lost by casting an affirmative vote on this proposition.

The other proposition to supply sufficient funds to
pay incorporation expenses of the stock cciii:aJy is, in my judg-
ment, fair and reasonable and according to the underst:dr.ii-ig that
generally prevails among all members of the Okeelanta Association.
We will have no need for the Okeelanta Association after the stock
company is organized, and what is unnecessary, I believe should be
done away with immediately.

I sincerely trust that you may be able to register your
vote and forward same to me by return mail. With best pe ona
regards, I beg to remain

Yours very truly, ( ( \~.

Encl.. .2

I AN^

Z. H. AUSTIN
PRESIDENT

D. D. McINNIS
SUPERINTENDENT OF AGENTS

HENRY M. LITTLE
SE'Y AND TREAS.

NORTH AMERICAN LIFE AND CASUALTY CO.
OFFICES, 917-918-919-920-921 PLYMOUTH BUILDING

I have yours of the 21st inst. enclosing
your negative vote on both the propositions recently submitted.

The purpose of rescinding the so-called contract bear-
ing date of March 17, 1913, 7h to leave the Trustees and the
members of the Executive Board of the Okeelanta Association per-
fectly free to transact their respective duties as such officers
in a proper and lawfulrranner. I believe I am stating a funda-
mental principle of law when I say that even had it been our in-
tention to make and execute that document as a contract, it would
have been illegal and void and contrary to publicq_3icy. I
doubt very much if it is strictly; honest for an officer of any cor-
poration or a trustee under any obligation to enter into a con-
tract binding himself to any particular line of conduct in the dis-
charge of his official duties. Furthermore, it is a well-estab-
lished principle of law both in civil .nd criminal proceedings
that a person's intentions may be determined by the conse.i-ences J.'
of his acts. It follows, as a natter of course, that to perform
official acts under a written contract with respect to a certain
line of procedure and in conformity there~i.th is to make one's
self personal ly _.lable for any prover.n i:~,e :e that might result
from such acts and possibly to expose such person to a serious
question as to his hon.sty. In fact, a direct cri inal liabil-
ity comes unc....fortably close to a financial liability under
such conditions and procedures.

----- ... whn T nmicrnfri that document, I understood it to
erely a rec'._ er:;a-
,subject to any moa-
(1) Apply this test to all that Austin an that might become
hasdone in this Gift Land matterand calls itself a recgi!-
draw oonolusionse should seek to force
act. In view of the
I think it advisable
the Trustees free to
on them b ythe trust
cials in the discharge

I have yours of the 21st inst. enclosing
your negative vote on both the propositions recently submitted.

The purpose of rescinding the so-called contract bear-
ing date of March 17, 1913, ',sa to leave the Trustees and the
members of the Executive Board of the Okeelanta Asaociation per-
fectly free to transact their respective duties as such officers
in a proper and lawfu'~mmanner. I believe I am stating a funda-
mental principle of law when I say that even had it been our in-
tention to make and execute that document as a contract, it would
have been il legal and void ard contrary to publiq'licy. I
doubt very r~nlth if it is strictly honest for an officer of any cor-
poration or a trustee under any obligation to enter into a con-
tract binding himself to any particular line of conduct in the dia-
chir-e of his official duties. Furthermore, it is a well-estab-
lished principle of law both in civil and criminal proceedings
that a person's intentions may be determined by the consequences )
of his acts. ITTollows, as a matter of course, that To perform
official acts under a written contract with respect to a certain
line of procedure and in conformity therevwith is to make one's
self personally~iLable for any prover. -i..e that might result
from such acts and possibly to expose such person to a serious
question as to his honesty. In fact, a direct cri.iAna_ liabil-
ity comes uncomffortably close to a financial liability under
such conditions and procedures.

S -- Now, when I signed that document, I understood it to
mean exactly what it states upon its face, merely a recommenda-
tion as to a certain general line of conduct, subject to any moa-
ification, either of detail or of general plan that might become
advisable under subsequent developments. It calls itself a recom-
mendation and I cannot understand why anyone should seek to force
upon us the construction that it was a contract. In view of the
complications that have arisen concerning it, I think it advisable
that all parties simply rescind4,_and leave the Trustees free to
go ahead and discharge the duties imposed upon them b; ythe trust
deed, and as befits and becomes trusted officials in the discharge
of their respective duties.

In regard to continuing the existence of the Okeelanta j/
Association, it is evident to my mind that sucha.caontintance is
absolutely impossible, in view of the fact that it would be ij-
possible for us"TE retain-lu.c_-. .bership and collect dues after
the Okeelanta Corporation has been for.,ed and the so"k issued
to all parties interested. It has been hard enough to secure
the payment of dues when there was a property-interest in the
matter. After the Okeelanta Corporation has been formed, the
Association will fa.1 to pieces of its own weight. I see no
good purpose in continuing it, but, on the contrary, I can see
where its continuance might cause a great many unnecessary com-
plications. What is the motivt2j2ck of this determination to /
continue this Association7 What practical purpose can it
serve? These are questions that I would 113 very much to have
a rns-,3ered.

Your letter of the 11th inst. at hand, and
it read so much like an answer to a letter I had never seen, I
immediately re-read my letter of December 26th in order to get
in line with the general direction of your argument, but was un-
able to do so.

In response to nmy inquiry as to the mot-ve behind the
desire to continue the Okeelanta Association's existence, ycu
prove yourself a true and lo .1 Yankee by s- ba-ittin an inquiry
of your own, to wit: what is bfetind our desire to destroy" t.
I am willing to forego your answer to my 1- .'iry and to a' :.t
my answer to yo.urs.

-purely fr,-,,. : 'I t .. .. .. n orf the
Okeelanta Association has been fully perfo i.. '.-f The re is o I :
purpose for it to serve after the organization of the stock com-
pa:y. It then becomes a usseLes and impractical t__thing in so far
as really good purposes are concerned, and I believe irn destry ..ng
what is useless, bearing in mind that what is useless too oten
beoo;ea_;j.-."ul if prrmitted to exist. All nature cries out
against useless things just as it ces a against a vawcun.. I re-
gret very much that you have not stated to ..s ;e reasons for
your desire for continuing the Okeelanta Associc,,ti-n.

You further say that in your opiniro you think the
people who cre; _ed the Okeelanta Associa tio1n are the (cres '-.n6
sa uld end it. Perhar.s it mi. t be well to a, ree w ith : u on
this point, for certainly no. ce except those :n the Exeocu tiive
BJxd had anything to do with creating the Okeelantc Association.
Of course, the several udre. .eor.le under the tent consented
to it and, of course, several hundred more have become ,e ::bers
of it, but none of there created it. You could count the cre.t-
ore of this lucklesssAssocition by the rnge f one 1, .nd, and
if desirous of bein technically correct, would have several
fingers left unused. A few of 1C created the merberhi by hola-
ing out certain inducements and"rerresentatiors, upon which we
are now a-parently un-rilling to 7a!e ;d. We prCo d our a e:-
bers that the money should be used to protect these common lands
and to organize a stock company, and w.e .cre nt ormakgl :-i n
that promise. We are proving ourselves u:..'.-r ty of our trust.
As a result of this unfortunate conditiocrn, we ~ ha.ve reached -a point

where everyone of us must loeo to hi c;:r cnscienc e. h There is
evidently nc lc ngr any poes.ibilty of" o-o.erIt,'ng a 2 crd.

You make reference to Dr. Will but I fail to frnd any- ,-\
thing in my letter te you that rfrs-" To t gen rtl ean. I
have no quarrel with you on account of your friendship wit. iur.
Will and cannot understand how your reference to him lh8 ,ecre c
a part of our corresondence. You say he has expended some ifcney
and donated the services of his son to the developi:en-t o hi ..
personal interests near Okettl nta, and express the opinion that
we have in scmne way been ben e ted there y. Do you wish to beL -
understood as expressing the opinion -that this activity upon the
part of Dr. l in r in hi :r. .: ts has placed the
Florida T ... .- ; ..". .... .- .l
o; T; L "c *. C, you caZ didal, Y
that you have injected a very noveloctrine into ordinary busi-
neos affairs.

I am astonished that you she. .; feel called upon to
enter into an extended_~efense of Dr. Will. 'My letter to you
does hot ap ear to refer to Dr. Will or to make any such defense
at all necessary. You say that someone has been telling you to
get out. Did I ever issue any such mandate as that ? Really,
Mrs. McCullough, your letter does not appear strictly responsive
to my communication of the 26th. May it not be possible that
you have answered my letter from memory, attributing to me son:e-
t..ng that i'.ay have been written you scnecone else? I would
certainly feel justified in so concluding.

You quote me as sa-'I "There is no use for you
folks". I am not conscious of having ever said or even intimated
anything of that kind. Do you feel justified in expresbsng such
a grievance from a mere inference? Do you th nk tLe inference is
proper, in view of the invilation that was extended to you to be-
coCe an officer of the newvl,. !.i: ? Is it not also true that
you aiade a condition of ycuracceptance that DrP.Wiil shlo-:d be )
made a uir-a:.r of the new board cZ .i r-ectors? Of course, I ao not
know what might be the influences that wAold let, a ycu to disregard
and sacrifice everything to that one "personal consideration. Is
the personaLinterest of one .an to be made _reatter than tha.t o0
3,5C0 contract holders? I anu having as much trouble irn 'cllowvin
your course of 'eascring as -ou seen, to have Lha in fol owing ine.

Lake Worth, With Its Natural Surroundings and Many Advantages
The town of Lake Worth is located on beautiful Lake Worth, from which it derives its name. It is seven miles south of
Palm Beach, and about 100 miles farther east than Jacksonville.
The lake is 22 miles long and averages three-quarters of a mile wide. It is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by a strip
of land nearly one-quarter mile wide, with an altitude averaging 30 feet. Thus the lake and lands adjacent are sheltered from
the Ocean by a natural breakwater, and are warmed in the winter by the mighty Gulf Stream on the east and the great Lake
Okeechobee on the west. This, added to the Trade Winds and ocean breezes, makes the climate at this point ideal, both summer
and winter. Being immune from frost, this is the logical place for raising vegetables and tropical fruit.
Drinking water is pure and abundant. Wells average 20 to 30 feet, and can be driven at a trifling cost.
There are plenty of fresh and salt water fish, oysters, clams and wild game of all kinds for the sportsman.
Nearly all lines of business are now represented here. There is also a Chamber of Commerce, affiliated with the State
organization.
Lake Worth is in the midst of great developments. One of the greatest and most important is the Okeechobee Canal,
which will have its outlet less than one mile north of town. This will provide drainage and transportation by water, thereby
opening one of the richest bodies of land in Florida. The map indicates the many beautiful rock roads now provided for.
Lake Worth is backed by a liberal Land Company and 7,000 contract holders.

As AssistantSecretary of The Okeelanta
Corporation charged with the accepted duty of maintAijir.g our
Floridao fice at Lake Worth ard keeping the home office
records of the Corporation, you should have. o r file \
copy of our cljater, ofr letterpatent, a opy of our By-laws,
and a record of the procdedings oi all stock holdeers' and"
directors' meetings. These are usually kept in a record oook
into which each document has been copied. I do not know, Mra.
McCullough, how rnany of these documents you have. I think it
would be advisable for you to infornfrge hoV mniny you have, in
what form they are, and whether or not ,ou have anything in the
nature of a record or minute book. You riight also make sugges-
tions as to what form would be the most convenier.t for the
keeping of these records, whether as separate aocunenta in
t ypewritten form or in a regular ir.'nute book intc whi hi they
have all been transcribed. These are matters wve should give
some attention to now and I am going to take the matters up
with the others of the Board with a view of settlin-g upon some
definite plan that would satisfy the re.luiiu ents of tne lay ~.
of Florida as to maintaining a Floriaa4 iice. In a short
while I wiI send you the stcck brioks Ircm whici, we are now
issuing stock.

There is another esreciallyimportant matter that I
have to call your attention to at the present time. It relates
to the payment of tax.s upon our gift_2a.as. Last year, Mr.
Champion attended to the raking of the payments and advises me
that he had considerable difficulty in procuring a statement of
taxes on the Fractional Nort; g, SectiorA., Township 43 So.,
Range 35 East. After a most strenuous effort,he was able to pro-
cure a statement of taxes on this tract aind made the payment
thereof.

For some strange and unaccountable reason, I have been
having the sar ie._zouble t'.ia year. I procure statements on all
our other tracts but have been unable to procure a statement on
Section 19 altr.ouh I have repeatedly written to hr. T. J. Camp-

,Y

1"60 ACRES',
40-

1760 ACRES

HOLDING AND DEVELOPING EVERGLADES LAND '7
FOR BENEFIT OF STOCK-HOLDERS.

bell, the Tax Collector,for it. I understand that serious con-
sequences will result if taxes are not paid on or before July
let. I have written to Mr. Smith and presume that he is either
away from home or else has left it to Mr. Camr.pbell. Probably
there is some misunderstanding between the two of them as to the
furnishing of the information.

After corresponding with Mr. Champion, we have decid-
ed it best to put the matter into your &nds, knowing that it
will then receive prompt attention and that we will have definite
advices. Could you not arrange to go to West Palm Beach and in-
terview Mr. Campbell, going over the records of last year and his
correspondence with Mr. Champion and ascertaining what was done,
the amount of taxes, etc., and then procuring from him a stat ent
of taxes for the present year, forwarding it to me with such ex-
planations of the situation as you may deem proper, whereuFon I
will immediately send him a check to pay the same? It is pos-
sible this tract may not be surveyed and that it may have been
surveyed in connection with some of our other tracts. Certainly
there is something unusual in the situation there that makes it
impossible for me to obtain any definite understanding of same.

I hope it will not cause you any serious inconvenience
to attend to this matter for us and that you will be able to do
so and get me advices so that payment of taxes can be made be-
fore it is too late.

With best personal regards, I be o re.n n

Yours very truly,

P. S. Our other taxes on gift lands in Palm Be ch County amounted
to $318.,, for which we hold Tax Recipt N. 1 25 The receipt
refers to Pages 115, 117, 122, being a of fracicaal Sections
9 42 37, and 17 42 37, and 5 43 37.

Doctor Barr having been elected
Treasurer of the Okeelanta Corporation, it will de-
volve upon him to furnish the bond as custodian of
funds in future. We can save some money by having
m.Eo4, transferred to him, getting credit for the
reTurn premium on the old bond. You are the custo-
dian of my bond. Will you kindly forWT rTl fT- once
to Doctor W. A. Barr, 32 North State Street? I
have a letter from the bonding company stating that
as soon as this is done, they will exchange the new
bond for the old one, giving us credit for the un-
earned premium on the old.

Trusting you will find it convenient to
give this your immediate attention, I am

Many thanks for your favor co
the 17th inst. At last I know something about our
North of Sectioa,19, Township 43, Range 35. We
are more than gratified to know that we now have a
source of prompt and reliable information.

Having omitted to tax us this year, I am
inclined to the opinion that they cannot charge
up to us at any time in the future.

The annual meeting of the Okcelanta
Corporation is fixed by the By-laws so that it
comes this year on Januarxfrd.
There does not seem to be business of
sufficient importance to justify the Board of
Directors in making the expense of comingdown
there to hold a meeting. Vie have discussed the
matter pro and con, and have decided to ask !r.
r!mi th, the resident Director, to go to Lake
north on that day, and together withyou, as
Assistant ecretsry, hold this -_-ting for us.
In order that any business may be trans-
acted, it will be necessary for 2471 shares to be
represented u -thE meeting. There is no probability
that so many will be represented, but it is very
likely best that the -ecretery be present to receive
and register any proxies that may be prented for
that purpose, and to make a record of the meeting.
.r. ..~th as a member of the Board of
Directors can call,,.hLmeeting to order, and then
you can ascertain how many shares are there rep-
resented, and making a note of this in your
minutes, then i.r. Smith can adjpurn the meeting
for want of a quorum. Your record will show this,
and the fact of the filing of any reports by the
Treasurer, or any other officer or person. Thbn
with the showing of no, quorum and the showing of
its adjournment for want of a quorum, will place
the r cprd in good condition. Then when we win.h
to hold a meeting, one can be called as provided
in the By-laws.
.r. Champion will be there about that time,
and you can ask him as to the making up of your minutes,
if there is anything further that should be explained.
But M he will not be there for the meeting as I am now
advised.
.enri"g to you my very best wishes for a
most pleasant year, and thanking you for attending
t tnese matters for us, I remain,

The correspondence you have had with Doetpr Barr having been re-
ferred to the ondersigned connection with your request for the issue of ono shar
of stoolk 1 ttalc tLae Liberty of advising you as follow
Under the trust odee it. is generally Bones dt that., it. was the purpose
to provide oontraet holders with sttok in this 0Orporstion in proportion to the
number of contracts they had purchased. *esear Bryant. and Groenwood elaim that
this is the proper construction and corresponds with their intentions.
Now it was necessary to provid.j ajpds wherewit.h to defray toaes and
other inoidentaL-.jApenss incurred it no`ntctAion with the ownership and oare
of the gift lands ans also funds for incar orating the company provided for
in the trust. deed sad also for providing sufficient, funds to fully equip the
Corporation for it business of t*aknag ears of and developing this property. /
Inasmuch ce you are. tBte owner of several contracts it. occure tp us that. you
should avail yourself of tjbe privilege of ta.fing out. as mucb stock as you
are entitled to hold that is one share of stpek for each contract. As nearly
s it. can be ealculatis; tje seL of 8s O-.0 vers the expense properly chargeable
to eath share of stpek..
We be tteve that, troa te progress that. is being made now in the aver-
glades that our lands t ina s hort, while become not. only self-sutaining
butt. profit boring, In view of the faet, that only a fair proportion of the
contract. holders are taking atwIIvkge ot, their stpok it follows that the stocI
that is tsies out, will be. worth sore monoy tht tt if every contract. holder had '
responded and taken advantage of tboe opportunity.
In.asmuch as you have fand it, advisable t. take one share of stock
and pay tie proportionate expenseB of 28.00 on that, share it. occurs to us
that with a proper explanation before you and a elear underst.Bandig of the
Bit.uation you would oortainly desire to tjke out stgck for the other contracts
thbat. you purchased. If so we wish you to feel that, the opportunity is still
open to you and will be for a short, t.me.
Awaiting your further pleasure I as

ouere very truli
,- r'2I / -, .^ A .

1 t 7i, L-4

Q2fA 1-0;7Lk. C_

signed ( 3 I Austin)
Goc'y The Oks*lant.a corporation.

T7 .

III

41 %

I

DR. W. ALLEN BARR ,
3B NORTH STATE STREET
CHICAGO

Farch 12th, 1915.

Mrs. Laura V. McCullough,
Lake Worth, Florida.
My dear 1.rs. 'cCullough;-
Herewith I am enclosing you a copy of myreport
to the Comptroller,and you will observe it is different from ry report
that was furnished you at the time of calling and adjourning the
meeting.when IAr.Chiapmma and Ir. Ciaarpion were dcwn to Lake Worth.
At that time I had been unable to get a report from Mr.
Austin,as to the receipts and disaigenents from his office,consequently
I could mare ny report only from my own receipts and disbursements.
Only a few days ago, I got a statement form him, and have
made out a completeeport for the Comptroller,which should have been
done by Jan let.
7 an also enclosing you a copy of Hr. Austins Statement.
you will observe also, that the Taxesa in Palm Beach Co, is
is not included as a part of the expenses in the statement (1916) The
taxes was not a part of the expense until after Jan. 1st.
Mrs. Barr joins ne in our very -est regards and well
wishes,

If the annual meeting of the Okeelanta Corporation for 1916 did anything
I have not heard about it and I have watched the papers diligently for some report.
I suppose everyone who hasn't abandoned the subject in disgust is a little more
embittered.

I have written tori-'t to 'r. 1-ann a little fuller than I can write again
and told him I want you to see the letter. I hope you will do so, because perhaps
something good might come out of.the matter yet.

To my mind Bryant and Greenwood are the people to take hold of it, be-
cause, whether there is deliberate purpose in it or not, the facts are that this
gift is a long, long way from being administered as they intended. And if it
goes on long enough the matter will rise up and smite them. ';ow they do not de-
serve that but no one else can reach the officers of the Corporation. r;'.iAt
Greenwood do not know the situation probably, fot it has been sone ti'e since
they considered the subject out of their hands, and of course the officers never
told of their part in eliminating you and Dr. '.ill.

I stayed by the Corporation until I care here,for the express purpose
of caring for the contract holders. It was a masterly cam-paign of inaction,
after the organization Jan. 24, 1914. Absolutely nothing was done but try to
make every body pay V2.00 a contract. That came to an end promptly. -- Jan. 1915,
nothing done, no meeting, ''cou''. r. Champion was in Lake '::-1.h and by the type
written report had 2000 proxies, he did not attend the meeting. Jan. 1916
still nothing doing.

And I do not think Bryant & Greenwood deserve the blame they get in
the matter. i'e-i intended it to be a real gift to all the contract holders and
probably believed the deed was so worded that their purpose would be secured.
But they were mistaken.

Best wishes

(Signed) Laura V. L'cCullough

The wildernesss Lodele, Heath, Florida,
Feb. 15, 1916.

Dear r. ;ann;

Some tire ago you wrote me and among other things mentioned the gift
land and asked me some questions.

I was in hopes that the annual meeting of 1916 ninsht improve the situa-
tion and I wrote you that I expected to see the people up there during the sum-
mer. :r-.-. some things in my affairs make the latter plan uncertain and as the
annual meeting of the Corporation did nothing so far as I can learn, I'm going
to give you whatever benefit there is in the results I have arrived at, for I
have done a lot of thinking about the matter and then I was pr.. -crtt at one of
the organization meetings of the Corporation Jan. 1914 as well as the one where
the Okeelanta Association was supposed to be snuffed out. I was present at the
attempt at an annual meeting in Jan. 1915. Some time soon after this Jan.
1915 :lr. George H. Smith, who was president of the convention at 7". Palm Beach
becoming dissatisfied with the officers of the Corporation talked to me about
their being liable to hage the charter annulled, because t'e- had not complied
with the laws of Florida regarding corporations. The chiefest items I recall being
that they had never established any attempt at an office in the State -- had
never given to me as their elected assistant secretary any books, records, list
of stockholders or anything whatever. whichh is true.

sy 1915 1 resigned and came here. 7v- the call for the annual meet-
ing of 1916 wras published I noticed 7ir. Smith has been made assistant secretary.
I do not think any office has yet been established. I'o-.ever aside from that,
the 1916 meeting was not held, or no one -'as there but ICr. smithh and he is
probably not a quorum. Or so I heard.

: r I am eli-PibU to have a report if there is one. I had paid -2.00
to Okeelanta Association and on their demand paid another *2.00 or having two
shares I paid %2.00 each, and I am the possessor of a certificate No. 516 setting
forth that I am the owner of 2 shares of the capital stock of the Corporation fully
paid and non assessable &c T :c., value ,10.00 each.

It is now 1916 and nothing has been done,- I may be mistaken but in
my opinion nothing will be done because the Corporation has no noney and having
alienated and embittered a good many people I do not see how they can get any.

It will only be a question of time and not a long time either when some
or all of the land will go for taxes to some body.

I am not a lawyer and do not know how such things are done, or that they
can be done, or that it is best, but to my mind Bryant and Greenwood are the peo-
ple to move in the matter on the ground that their wishes and the purposes of the
gift have not been carried out, and when a sufficient time has passed for a plan
or a beginning to be made too. In- act I believe as a matter of self defense they
could do something, because it will hurt them if the thing continues to hang in
the air. And I do not think any one else can get the attention of the officers
of the Corporation. Perhaps it is out of Bryant and Groeenwrood's hands, but it
certainly needs attention or the matter will make trouble, and help nobody.

Copy

- ---

2

Bryant and Greenwood made that gift in good will and intended to benefit all the
contract holders. I do not think they know the facts of the situation. I wish
you would tell me how the matter looks to the people up there. I am also writing
to i.lr. Bantz but I want him to see this letter because it is somewhat fuller than
I shall have time to write him. So see that he gets it some how.